The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-01-21
Our Washington Letter
From Our Regular Correspondent.
Washington, Jan. Is, 1887.

well lald plans, congress ignored the larl1
puzzle for whole week, aud turned its at
tention and its energies upon the Mormon
question, Interstate Commerce, Apr opria-
tions for the militia. and upon .he bill for
establishing an Executive Department of
Agriculture with seat In the Cabinet for
its chief. Each question was pushed to
vote, and the result will be, fall this legis-
lation effects what was intended, that the
twin relic of barbarism will be rooted out
of Utah; the people will be relieved of
grievous oppression and eXtortion from the
Railroads; the arms and other equipments
and the farmers will have an imposing
figure head at Washington to look after
their special interests.
The President gave the first State RECEIPT
ion of 1887 to the Diplomatic Corps, it be-
ing long established custom here to pay
the first honors of the season to thu Repre-
sentatives of foreign nations. The official
world of Washington is always formally
invited to these leyees and persons in pri-
vate life whose presence is desired are in
vited informerly by the host or hostess. AL
though the rain poured down and the
wind blew furiously, the White House was
filled with a brilliant throng on this cccas-
ion, and outside the scene was one in which
rolling carriages, lines of coaches, coupes,
cabs, and all descriptions, banging doors
and shouting drivers played a conspicuous
part.
The venerable Mr.. Corcoran, Washing
toms philanthropist, came to the reception
early and remained late, seated on sofa
in the Blue Parlor, where he received
much attention from the Presidents guests
Gen. Sheridan, in full uniform, with five
glttering badges on his breast and his
white belt worn diagonally over his should
ers, came with his wife on his arm and
Gen. Fitz John Porter, who had not been
to White House reception probably for
twenty years was there. The President
seems to have recovered his health entirely
and after the fatigung task of three hours
of handshaking, went to work the next
morning with more vim than usual.
Many people think the President will
call for an extra session of Congress. The
Tariff question is in such a mud die that
the revenue reformers haye little hope of
doing anything this session. Unless Mr.
Randall does make a moye, the controver-
sy will probably exhaust in talk until the
end of this session, with the prospect of an
extra session being called.
Hon. Frank Hurd, of Ohio, who lost his
seat in Congress through too much elo-
quence in behalf of Tariff reform, is here
now, and as eager as ever for Tariff legisla,
ton. He is very anxious for an extra sess-
ion, so that the tariff fight may be brought
on as soon as possible. He asserts that
public interest in the subject is growing
stronger. A few years ago when he talk
ed tariff no one would listen. Not one
man in hundred cared then one rap about
the Tariff. Now he says he gets letters ev-
cry day asking him to deliver lectures on
the subject. He thinks the Administration
will hardly dare to let the Treasury sur
plus 60 piling up until next year. Tariff
reform has got to come, said Mr.. Hurd,
and the sooner the question is met the bet
ter. Let us have an extra session.
There will be a Norwegian in the Fiftieth
Congress in the place of the late Mr.
Price of Wisconsin, and he will be one Of
its greatest man so far as expansion is con-
celned. Mr.. Nils Haugen is six feet fou,
inches and weighs three hundred pounds,
He is thoroughly American in speech and
manner, however. having come to this
country when baby. He was ed ated at
Ann Arbor Michigan, and has been in the
Wisconsin legislature for several terms
He has been State Railroad Commissioner
since 1882, and is also stenographer, hav-
ing made his living reporting at court at
one time.
1t is not every Congressman who is rich
enough to take the stand against his Office
hunting nstituents that Mr.. Perry Bel
mont now occupies. This young Congress.
man had the courage to say at the last
election that he declined anv longer 10
spend his time in Washington looking after
positions for the faithful. He was willing
to pay for the services of a man whose dutv
it should be to devote himself to that kind
of work, he added. but he was not willing